We are contagious to each other!
So, a new issue has arisen that I will have to find a solution to. A few months ago when I was mentioning flying, Dylan joked about how he didn't want to fly. Or maybe it wasn't joking???
We were talking the other day and he flat out said he didn't want to fly. He's afraid of heights and does NOT want to get on a plane.
Dylan is turning 16 this summer, but he's an unusual 16 year old. He doesn't care much what other people think, he's VERY headstrong, but not afraid to tell people what he's afraid of. He did NOT like most of the rides at WDW b/c of the g-force and drops. He won't even go on Pirates again b/c of the drop and hates TT. Soarin was the only thing he didn't mind.
Anywho...there have been a couple times in the past where he was scared of doing something and just FLAT OUT REFUSED to do it. No coaxing, threatening, or rationalizing would work. If you tell him he will be grounded, he says, "Ok, ground me.". Also, these situations are always spur of the moment. We get there and BAM, he won't get out of the car, etc.
This terrifies me b/c what if we get to the airport and he refuses to get on the plane??? I can't drag him, he's a big boy, and it would ruin the whole trip if this happened. I can talk to him for the next 8 months, but there is NOTHING to ensure that he won't panic and refuse at the last minute. We have talked about phobias and I am hoping to have him look up some info on fear of flying, but I have to have some alternatives.
Here is what I've come up with: We buy the tickets, we talk about it, I talk to my mom privately (she is driving us to the airport) and arrage with her that IF the worst happens and he freaks, he can just go home with her and stay with her for the week.
This is not optimal b/c we not only will have spent money on his tickets and airfare, but it won't be the same without him. This is our first family trip with Eli and just US. I'm sure we would have fun still and he would be fine with my mom, but it would be a cloud over the whole trip.
The second option I presented to Rey and he's thinking about it. It would cost the same amount of money to use their airfare money (Rey's and Dylans) and have them leave the day before and drive. Rey is a truck driver, so the distance (17 hours...that's not including stops) wouldn't bother him, they could sleep with the seats reclined, AND, a bonus would be that we would have a car onsite. No more fretting about being at the mercy of the buses. It would also make packing and bringing stuff easier. We can't ALL drive b/c although we would fit, it would be MISERABLE with 3 teens side-by-side and Savannah cramped in the back. There is also the issue that we couldn't get just 1 motel room b/c there are 6 of us and we would have 2 more days of food for 6 people during this drive. We spent SO much money driving last trip that I realized it would be about the same amount to fly.
Ugh. Anyway, I have a friend that told me I just need to tell him to face his fear and basically "be a man" about it, but I don't think it's just about that. I have adult friends that have fear of flying and it is a REAL fear them. I'm not sure he'll be able to do it. AND, what if he does get on the plane and we have turbulence or something and then on the trip back he refuses to get on??? Then what???
Can't wait to read more!
but I'm just not sure that would work either. It just makes it a little harder to have Rey & him drive. I keep going back and forth and I'm unsure but I'll have to decide when it's time to book flights!
!!! If you cannot coax him into it by the time you are ready to purchase your plane tix, I would have the backup driving plan available. I see you are going to be there in September as well- awesome there are soo many of us going!!!! Are you staying at Pop too?
